When I was in junior high school, I joined the debate team. I still don’t know why. I was awkward. I didn’t know how to speak up for myself at thirteen, especially when it meant arguing a point.

What I remember about being dropped off at the library for hours and hours of research was the team’s collective interest in two people. A couple. Who were dating. We followed them all over the hidden corners of the library, trying to catch them in various states of making out. Rather than report findings on our next great point for argument, we whispered about whether they kissed with tongue and whether we could see their hands and what they must be doing RIGHT NOW.

Sigh.

I can’t promise such a raging show of hormones at the main branch of the Charleston County Library tonight at 6pm in the main auditorium. I’ll just be there. Talking. Enlightening attendees on the trials of my walk of the Natchez Trace. Telling them how it relates to my novel To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis. Meeting readers and playing music and introducing Dad to all and sundry.

For those of you who aren’t in Charleston, we’re going to set up a Google Hangout. If you’ve been squeamish about participating in a Google Hangout before, please don’t worry. It’s so easy. You merely need to log in to Google Hangouts, download the software they specify, and set it all up ahead of time. If you let me know you’ve done that, I’ll include you in the group invite.

You’ll be able to participate almost like you’re there. You can hear my talk. You can see Dad. You can ask me questions. You can be in on any big announcements with the initial group.

If technology cooperates. If you have the time. You can be at my Charleston County Library talk wherever you are. If you’re interested, please let me know in a comment today, and I’ll include you in the global invitation.

Regardless, thank you for reading. I wouldn’t be at the Charleston County Library, or ANY library, without you.

i love your follow the make out couple around the library memory, andra, it is the perfect example of junior high priorities. sounds like the library has been, and continues to have an important place in your life )

Can you Google hang out on your iPhone? We’re supposed to be helping Preston and his family move a couch from Boise to Emmett tonight…yes, I know, I get to do all the fun things. 🙂 Going to try. Will you send me an invite if I can do it on my iPhone?

As I finished grade school and junior high and even my first two years of high school, the Topsfield (Mass.) town library was a big warm impressive building. The last time I was in Topsfield, things had changed, grown, and all that. The library seemed small. But it was still warm and the memories seemed still fresh. And it still smelled the same, maybe even better.

6pm is tricky for me. I may still be caught in traffic. If I make it home in time, I’ll definitely try the hangout. I’m pretty sure I’ve got it installed already, so I guess I just need to be invited in?

We’ve been having computer “issues” that may or may not be fully resolved by day’s end. Until that’s accomplished I’m not going to toy with anything new . . . internet has been up and down like a YoYo . . . but I am going to check out this Hangout business soon, and maybe one of these days ? ? Meantime, I hope you get a huge turnout from the hometown folks tonight! 🙂

The library’s connection in the main auditorium is spotty. Rather than try to organize a hangout for this presentation, we’re going to record it and put it up online sometime afterward (if the quality of the video ends up being good enough.) I am determined to do future Google hangouts to allow people to attend events, but I don’t want the distractions of technology to gobble up my concentration on my first big event like this.

At some point we can have like a Q&A or something over the Google Hangout, that could be fun! Heck you could do it from home and have someone play host and ask questions/take questions from people, and the best part is have it auto record so even for people who didn’t get their live they can watch it later

I’m sorry I didn’t come around to the Google hangout! I am completely intimidated by the process, but promise to learn. I hope it was a wonderful time. I think you should be recommending whatever vitamins you are currently taking! 🙂